Description

Geddington, Northamptonshire.

Several shots of river Ise - typical English countryside, green and peaceful. Cut to a L/S of a village. People are gathering around village wall. Among the people on the wall, there is traditionally dressed town clerk reading charter. C/U shot of the face of town clerk reading. M/S of a tractor filled with people. They carry a banner reading "Battle of the Brook - South Side". M/S of another tractor driving through the village with banner reading "Battle of the Brook - North Side".

This is Battle of the Brook, "an annual tug-of-war contest across the river between men from the North and South side of the village Geddington." The main prize for the contest is firkin of ale - 72 pints of ale!

M/S of the men getting off tractor being greeted with a drink. A woman stands with a tray full of drinks. Several shots of men drinking. L/S of the crowd around the river. Children hang from the trees. Men from different teams start throwing mud at each other. Several shots of men holding a rope. There is a little barrel in the middle of the rope - symbolising main prize.

Succession of shots of men pulling rope and audience shouting. Several M/S of people being pulled into river. Men are wearing pyjamas, earrings, women's clothes, funny shirts and hats - quite colourful. Finally, the North wins. Men gathered around the judge and shake hands. Winner takes a little barrel and pours ale into his hat. Man drinks from his hat.

10 telling images selected from British Pathé's extensive WWI footage. 'The war to end all wars' was a war without parallel: over 70 million military personnel were involved and over 17 million people died.